YES

Nowhere near over

The World Health Organization has said it would be dangerous to assume that the ultra-contagious Omicron mutant is the last variant to emerge. So it is not yet time to relax Covid-19 protocols. Also, unequal distribution of vaccines has left many vulnerable to newer variants. Omicron might be loosening its hold but the pandemic is nowhere near over, it is becoming a choose-your-own-adventure story and the ending is not written yet.

Mounisha Saha,

Class XI, Rose Bank Edu-Care High School, Madhyamgram, West Bengal

False notion

Many people feel that the pandemic is over, which is absolutely wrong. People are still getting infected, so the battle is not over yet. If we keep on breaking the protocol, I don’t think Omicron will be the end of Covid-19.

Suhaani Haldar,

Class VII, Julien Day School, Calcutta

To become endemic

Omicron may be milder but that does not spell the end of Covid -19. It is a virus or biological puzzle that is capable of mutating, and new variants are bound to emerge. We cannot stop the virus from mutating, neither can we predict the severity of variants that are yet to come. We must keep following the protocol and get vaccinated. It may at least become endemic.

Myiesha Jawaid,

Class IX, Ashok Hall Girls’ Higher Secondary School, Calcutta

Viruses don’t vanish

Let us call the spade a spade and say it in one short sentence — Covid-19 isn’t going away soon. Viruses don’t “vanish” just like that; they are to be eradicated gradually. The only thing we can do is take precautions and try to develop medicines. Fingers crossed.

Pratyush Biswas,

Class VIII, W.W.A. Cossipore English School, Calcutta

NO

Losing strength

The World Health Organization has declared that Omicron is not as dangerous as its previous variants, which clearly indicates that the strength of the virus is declining. Also, a major part of the world population is already vaccinated. Moreover, those who are still getting infected must be developing antibodies in them. This means that there are higher chances of Covid-19 declining this year.

Tushar Bagaria,

Class XII, Delhi Public School Megacity, Calcutta

Will attenuate

Omicron, the new variant of the Covid-19 virus, has been spreading significantly faster than its previous variants, globally. People who have contracted it are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. It is also being said that Omicron itself might work as a natural vaccine. So, over a period of time, the virus will attenuate itself.

Trisha Sarkar,

Second year, K.P.C. Medical College and Hospital, Calcutta

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